A Year of Learning to Resist

By Earl Armstrong

An American flag flies upside down above San Francisco City Hall on April 5 as protestors nationwide took to the streets to denounce the policies of President Donald Trump. (Credit: Peter Schurmann)

I retired on December 31, 2024, after 54 working years, in jobs ranging from roofing to furniture delivery, to being a DJ at country music stations, to working for the government. Along the way I earned degrees in Radio/TV/Film, and Journalism. Shortly after earning my master’s degree Hurricane Andrew hit Louisiana, and I wound up working for the government for 32 years in both intermittent and full-time positions.

I planned to have fun in retirement. I never expected to spend time attending rallies, protesting, and calling and writing Texas’ two senators and my congressman on an almost daily basis.

My plan worked until January 20, 2025, or “Day 1”—the day Donald Trump began his second term. He signed many Executive Orders that day. The first one pardoned 1,500 people previously sent to prison for their actions in storming the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Trump brought in a billionaire, Elon Musk, to cut $2 trillion in waste, fraud and abuse from the budget. His DOGE teams found far less. DOGE operatives massively slashed staff at government agencies; The Social Security Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, Medicare, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) just to name a few.

DOGE staff at the IRS, VA, Social Security and Medicare obtained Personally Identifiable Information on virtually everyone in this country. They have names, addresses, Social Security and telephone numbers, as well as medical information, and income tax returns.

The author at a recent No Kings rally in Denton, Texas.

Each day brought more reasons to be angry about what I saw. Things that were illegal and unconstitutional. I wondered how this could happen in the United States. In WWII, my father fought against the NAZIS at Bastogne, Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. There is no way I could accept what was happening and dishonor his memory. On top of that, as a federal employee I solemnly swore to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic…”

I saw Face Book postings about demonstrations in Denton, where I live, focusing on protecting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Veterans Affairs benefits. I decided, at the age of 70, to join Indivisible Denton.

They’re associated with Indivisible, a nationwide nonviolent grassroots movement empowering local groups to defend democracy, take action on key issues, and organize collective pressure on key officials. Indivisible was started during Trump’s first term. For the first demonstration my sign was simple. IMPEACH. CONVICT. REMOVE. That sign is still my favorite.

I’ve taken part in events on a weekly basis in front of the Social Security Administration office on Saturdays for almost a year. Protest targets included the One Big Beautiful Bill, also known as the Big Ugly Bill, for the way it slashed medical research, Medicaid and SNAP and gave tax breaks to billionaires.

In one rally against ICE, we put up a couple of makeshift cages with photographs of people who were unlawfully detained by ICE, and who were not “the worst of the worst.” The downtown area was packed with marchers and people driving around the square honking their horns in support.

A makeshift display denouncing ICE targeting of immigrants with no criminal record. (Courtesy of author)

The “No Kings” rallies were reminders to President Trump that, as much as he may want to have absolute power, there have been no kings in this country since 1776. Millions of people around the country took part. Contrary to what the president said, no one was paid to participate. Another nationwide “No Kings” day is scheduled for March 28.

Now, in addition to the weekly demonstrations at the Social Security office, multiple demonstrations are held here on the weekends. People are putting signs up on pedestrian bridges over interstate highways, and college students have rallies on the courthouse square.

I learned about 5 Calls.org. This website lists contact information for all the members of both the House of representatives and the Senate. It also lists topics of concern around the country. Each topic has a history of Congressional actions, and a script to use when you call your senators and congressman/woman. Use their scripts as-is or edit them to suit your style.

Learn the names of your US senators and representatives. Learn the names of your state senators and representatives. Know who your city and county elected officials are. Show up at meetings, call them, email them, write postcards and letters reminding them that they work for you, not the billionaires.

If you’re not registered to vote, get registered and vote. Don’t let anyone tell you that your one vote doesn’t count.

The office numbers for U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, Senator John Cornyn and Senator Cruz are in my phone. I reach out to all of them, but only Rep. Jackson replies—and only by mail. The senators no longer respond, except for an occasional newsletter from Sen. Cornyn.

Wherever you are, join a group that is fighting back. If you’re unable to attend rallies in person and have a smart phone and a computer with internet access, or just a smartphone, you can do something to resist.

While this country has failed miserably at times to live up to the ideals embodied in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, we can’t give up trying to achieve those goals. Too many people have died defending them.

Earl Armstrong is a retired federal worker and former journalist. He lives in Denton, Texas.